Electrically-operated switch



Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER D. STANTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRlCALLY-OPERATED SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,575, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed January 14, 1897. Serial No. 619,165. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER D. STANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically- Operated Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrically-operated railway-switches.

The object of the invention is to provide means for enabling an electric car or engine to automatically operate a switch upon approaching the same, the construction admitting of the car either continuing on the main track or passing off on the siding, according to the strength of the current, the latter being under control of the motorman. V

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of a sufficient portion of a roadbed to illustrate the application of the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical cross-section showing the location of the electromagnet, operating-lever, &c.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I designates the main rails, and 2 the siding rails, the same meeting or converging at the points 3.

4 designates the switch-rail, pivoted on a vertical axis at the point 5 and having its free end adapted to swing horizontally in the usual manner.

the lreturn-wire 9, by which the current is taken from the rails and carried to the powerhouse.

Arranged under the free end of the switchrails 4 is a box or casing 10, in the bottom of which is an electromagnet 11, having one wire I2 extending to and connecting with one of the cross-wires 7 or one of the insulated sections of the rails, the other wire I3 extending to one of the main rails outside of the insu` lated sections, as shown. Arranged vertically in the box or casing l0 is a lever I4, fulcrumed intermediate its ends at I5 and having its lower end arranged opposite the magnet, so as to be attracted thereby, the opposite or upper end of said lever being connected to the switch-rail, so as to move the latter horizontally when the lever is vibrated. Between the lower end of the lever and the wall of the casing is interposed a contractile spring 16, which serves to retract the lever after the current is shut oft from the magnet 1I and to return the switch-rail to its normal position. The parts are so arranged that, for instance, a current of, say, ve hundred volts is required to attract the lower end of the lever 14: for operating the switch, thus enabling the electric car to pass over the road-bed with a sufficient voltage to maintain the lights in the car without operating the switch.

In order to operate the switch for causing the car to leave the main track and pass onto the siding, the motorman keeps the full power or current on, and when the car reaches the insulated section of the rails the current passes through the magnet and attracts the lever 14,which throws the switch in the proper direction. If it is desired to continue on the main track, the motorman shuts oft a portion of the current sufficient to bring the same below the point where it will operate the switch and yet maintain the lights in the car. The switch is thus held inactive and the car passes along the main track. It will thus be seen that the switch is automatic in action.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

In an electrically-operated railway-switch, the combination with insulated sections of the Vmain and siding rails, of a pivoted switch-rail movable in a horizontal plane, an electromag- IOO net located beneath and at a distance from the connected to said lever, substantially as and free end of the switch-rail and having elecfor the purpose described.

trieal connection with one of the insulated In testimony whereof I have signed this rail-sections and also with one of the main or speciieation in the presence of two subscrib- 5 siding rail sections, a lever moving in a vering Witnesses.

tical plane and interposed between said inagnet and switch-raiLsaid lever being fulernmed at an intermediate point in its height and Vitnesses:

having a loose connection at its upper end ARTHUR F. BUTTERWORTH,

Io with the switch-rail, and a retracting-spring FRANK J. DEMOND.

WALTER D. STANTON. 

